God's Preparation, Before The Storm

Before the Storm: God's Preparation

Revelation 7:1-3

Introduction: A Storm Is Coming

Storms are a part of life. Whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, we all face times of great turbulence. Imagine a family that has been warned about an impending hurricane. They board up their windows, stockpile supplies, and make sure their loved ones are safe. In much the same way, God does not allow storms to come without first making preparations for His people.

In Revelation 7:1-3, we see a moment of divine pause before great tribulation unfolds. God, in His sovereignty, ensures that His servants are sealed and protected. This passage reminds us that God is in control, He marks His own, He grants time for repentance, and He prepares His people. Let us explore how God prepares us before the storm.

1. The Calm Before the Storm: God's Sovereign Control

Reference: Revelation 7:1

"After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth..."

Before the storm of judgment arrives, we see a divine pause. The four angels stand at the four corners, symbolizing God’s complete authority over the world. The winds, often representing judgment and chaos in the Bible (Jeremiah 49:36; Daniel 7:2), are restrained by God’s command.

This demonstrates that no storm can come upon the earth without God’s permission. We may feel overwhelmed by global or personal crises, but this verse reassures us that God remains in control. Even in moments of delay, God is working behind the scenes, ensuring His plans unfold according to His perfect timing.

John's vision reveals four powerful angels positioned at what he describes as the "four corners of the earth." While we understand our planet is spherical, this ancient expression simply encompasses the entirety of creation—north, south, east, and west—nothing escapes God's authority. These mighty angels stand as sentinels, restraining the destructive winds that await God's command.

Consider what this teaches us about God's sovereignty: Even forces of destruction must await divine permission. The winds of judgment do not blow indiscriminately or prematurely. Nothing in our universe operates outside of God's ultimate control.

In Psalm 104:4, we read that God "makes the winds his messengers." These are not ordinary winds but represent divine judgment—similar to the plagues of Egypt or the flood in Noah's day. Yet here, remarkably, they are temporarily restrained.

I'm reminded of a story about a missionary family in the Philippines who experienced a devastating typhoon. As the storm approached, they gathered to pray, not for the storm to pass them by, but for God's protection within it. When morning came, they discovered their home was the only one in the village left standing. The winds that demolished everything around them seemed mysteriously directed away from their humble dwelling. One neighbor said, "It was as though invisible hands held back the storm from your home."

Like those missionaries, we live in a world where destruction seems inevitable. Yet God sovereignly controls when, where, and how judgment falls. This should both comfort and challenge us. We are comforted knowing nothing touches us without passing through His hands first, but challenged to live with the awareness that judgment, though delayed, will surely come.

Illustration: Imagine a pilot navigating an airplane through turbulent weather. He instructs the passengers to remain seated and buckle up, reassuring them that he has control. In the same way, God holds the turbulence of life in His hands, guiding us safely through it.

2. The Sealing of the Servants: A Mark of Divine Protection

Revelation 7:2-3

"Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice... to seal the servants of our God on their foreheads."

As the four angels stand ready, another angel appears with the seal of the living God. This is no ordinary seal. In ancient times, seals served multiple purposes: they indicated ownership, authenticity, protection, and authority. The Roman emperors would seal documents with their signet rings, declaring, "This belongs to me. This carries my authority."

God's seal on His servants accomplishes something far greater. It doesn't just mark them as His own—it provides supernatural protection in the midst of coming judgment. This recalls the Passover in Egypt, where the blood on the doorposts protected the Israelites when the angel of death passed through (Exodus 12:13). It reminds us of Ezekiel's vision where those who grieved over sin received a mark of protection before judgment fell (Ezekiel 9:4-6).

Today, we bear a different but equally significant seal. Ephesians 1:13-14 tells us: "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance."